Presented at LILAC 2015

1. Using a peer to peer facilitation model
to build information literacy skills: the
NICE Evidence Search student
champion scheme / Anglia Ruskin
University partnership
Anne Weist, Education Manager, NICE Evidence Services
Jane Shelley, Subject Librarian, Anglia Ruskin University

2. 1. Background - a little peer-to peer teaching theory
2. Main objectives of the scheme
3. MMU Evaluation of the scheme
4. The Anglia Ruskin University experience
5. On-going challenges
6. Questions
Aim: to share our learning with you

3. Peer to peer learning and teaching is long established
(Boud 2001)
Peer learning is where “students learn with and from
each other” (Falchikov, 2001)
One of the best ways to learn is to teach it (Webb and
Powis, 2004)
Teaching deepens understanding (Biggs and Tang
2011)
Peer-to peer teaching theory

4. • Evidence base is relatively small for IL
“There have been few prior studies that
have explored the value of using peer
support or learning in the development
of information literacy”
(Rowley, J. et al (MMU) 2015)
Peer-to peer teaching

5. Main objective of the NICE ES
student champion scheme
• To increase the uptake and use of
evidence based resources
– Gives student champions:
• an insight into when and how to use Evidence
Search
• The tools to develop, plan and deliver their own
hands-on peer learning sessions http
://www.nice.org.uk/Get-Involved/Student-Champions

6. www.evidence.nhs.uk
Over 300,000 selected resources from hundreds of sources

7. The scheme aids learners to develop skills in:
• Use of high quality consolidated evidence based
resources
• Organizing, planning and preparation
• Reflection and evaluation
• Giving feedback
• Advocacy and promotion “link between being a
peer trainer and becoming an advocate”
(Rowley et al 2015)
MMU Evaluation

8. Student Champions aid peer learning by their:
•Targeted and relevant subject knowledge
•Awareness of specific study needs /
assignment requirements
•Being approachable and supportive
•Ability to reduce anxiety for peers
(Taken from Rowley et al 2015)
MMU Evaluation

9. MMU Evaluation
“the Scheme is an interesting innovation that
sits at the cusp of information literacy
training and the promotion of evidence-
based medicine. In particular, its
dependence on peer delivery, and the scale
of the Scheme, place it at the cutting edge.”
Rowley et al (2014) Evaluation of the NICE Evidence Search
Student Champion Scheme final report, (unpublished) April 2014

10. 1. Began May 2012 - observation
2. April 2013 workshop meeting other
librarians
3. Joint workshops Nov 2013 & May 2014
4. Solo workshop – input from previous
student champion – Nov 2014
5. Evaluation – ongoing and iterative
The Anglia Ruskin University
experience

11. • Total student champions 31
• Numbers of student champions relatively
low
• Cascade totals hard to track
• No protected teaching time
• Evaluation – bridging the gap and
enabling and encouraging students to
complete
The Anglia Ruskin University
experience

12. • Reflection important
• Issues - IT, classrooms, timetabling,
endorsement by academics
• Future – be flexible and creative
• Feedback – learn from what the student
champions say
• Let the student champions speak – use
benefits to them to sell it to others
ARU learning from the SCS

13. “introduce at the beginning of the course”
“fantastic tool”
“have more champions” as there are
“hundreds of students”
“students ….have been using [tool] since the
teaching session”
ARU Evaluation: student champions

14. Peer participant comments
• This would have been fantastic if we had access
to it 2 years ago. This will be really useful for the
remainder of my studies and also future career.
• The students who delivered the session
explained everything very thoroughly. It was very
well presented
• Thank you for this, it is really going to help me in
the future…

15. ARU peer to peer headlines
98% of students found the peer session useful or
very useful
All felt more confident about searching and thought
ES would be useful or very useful in their future
careers
6-8 weeks after their sessions all respondents had
either used ES or planned to do so

16. • Capacity
• Support / dependence on individuals
• Communication at all levels
• Maintaining momentum
• Data quality
• Putting our learning into practice
• Engaging with more HCPs and library staff
• Relatively low evidence base
On-going challenges

17. • See also http://http://www.nice.org.uk/get-
involved/student-champions
Questions

18. Andretta, S. Facilitating information literacy education (FILE). In: Handbook of
Library Training Practice and Development, edited by A. Brine, 2008. Available
at:
http://www.academia.edu/315188/Facilitating_Information_Literacy_Education_
FILE
Biggs, J. and Tang, C.S. Teaching for quality learning at university : what the
student does. Maidenhead : McGraw-Hill/Society for Research into Higher
Education/Open University Press 4th ed. 2011.
Boud, D., Cohen, R. and Sampson, J. Peer learning in higher education:
learning from and with each other. London: Kogan Page 2001.
Rowley, J. Sbaffi, L., Johnson, F., Weist, A. Evaluation of the NICE Evidence
Search Student Champion Scheme, HLG Newsletter, Volume 31, Number 3,
September 2014. Available at:
http://www.cilip.org.uk/sites/default/files/documents/HLG%20Newsletter
%20September%202014.pdf
References/ Bibliography

19. Rowley, J., Sbaffi, L., Johnson, F., Weist, A. Student peers'
views on their involvement as trainers in peer-based
information literacy training The Journal of Academic
Librarianship. Volume 41, Issue 2, March 2015, Pages 201–
206 Abstract available at:10.1016/j.acalib.2014.08.002
Rowley J, Sbaffi L, Johnson F, Evaluation of the NICE
Evidence Search Student Champion Scheme final report,
(unpublished) Information Interactions Research group,
Manchester Metropolitan University, April 2014.
Webb, J. and Powis, C. Teaching information skills: theory
and practice. London: Facet.2004.
References/ Bibliography

20. • What, if anything, that we have discussed
has been of particular interest to you?
Post-it note evaluation

21. Anne Weist
Anne.Weist@nice.org.uk
Jane Shelley
jane.shelley@anglia.ac.uk
Want to know more? Contact